Zelensky arrives in the UK. The Ukrainian president is expected in London on Wednesday February 8 for his second foreign visit since the start of the Russian invasion almost a year ago, Downing Street announced. Volodymyr Zelensky will meet the British Prime Minister, address Parliament and visit Ukrainian troops, the British executive said in a statement. London will announce on this occasion to strengthen its support and train fighter pilots.
100 Leopard 1 tanks. Ukraine will receive “at least 100 Leopard 1 A5 tanks (…) in the coming months”, the defense ministers of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark announced in a joint statement on Tuesday. These Leopard 1s, older than the Leopard 2s – of which Berlin has also promised kyiv 14 copies donated by the Bundeswehr – come from industrial stocks and will be refurbished.
Russia has claimed “successes”. Since January, the Russian army has gone back on the offensive in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donbass. “Currently, the fights are progressing successfully in the zones” Bakhmout and Vougledar, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement on Tuesday. He cited the recent conquests of seven localities including Soledar, a small town near Bakhmout that the Ukrainian forces ceded in January after deadly fighting for both sides.
The French Senate reaffirms its support for Ukraine. With a right-wing majority, the Senate overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on Tuesday calling on the government to strengthen the aid provided, “especially arms deliveries”. This text, without binding value, was placed on the agenda at the request of President LR of the Senate Gérard Larcher.